Campaign Report — Harris in the hot seat

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View Online Campaign Report Campaign Report The Big Story  Harris in the hot seat Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is ready for her next big test. A pre-taped interview with Harris will air Thursday night on CNN, but she's not flying solo as running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join her.  © The Associated Press Vice President Harris's first major interview since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee will air Thursday evening – a highly anticipated event that could prove pivotal to the presidential election.    Harris's running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will join her for the interview with CNN's Dana Bash. Harris hasn't conducted a sit-down since President Biden ended his reelection campaign last month.    The Hill's Alex Gangitano, Tobias Burns, Rachel Frazin and Joseph Choi have come up with five tough questions that Harris could face during the discussion.    The incumbent vice president, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and represented California in the Senate, has largely stayed out of the media spotlight while No. 2 to President Biden, so she has faced some backlash for the deeply choreographed launch to her presidential bid.   Following her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago earlier this month, Harris's campaigning tactics have leaned on pre-planned remarks and small groups – avoiding opportunities for unscripted moments.    Harris and former President Trump are locked in a tight race across seven battleground states, according to polling released Thursday.    The Hill/Emerson College Polling survey found Harris edging out Trump in Georgia (49 percent to 48 percent), Michigan (50 percent to 47 percent) and Nevada (49 percent to 48 percent). Trump had a slight lead in Arizona (50 percent to 47 percent), North Carolina (49 percent to 48 percent) and Wisconsin (49 percent to 48 percent). The two are tied at 48 percent in Pennsylvania.  All findings fall within the margins of error.    Trump posted on Truth Social that he disagrees with the decision to have Walz at Harris's side, arguing that it would give Walz a chance to aid with "inevitable Kamala stumbles."    But after the Republican National Convention, Trump took part in a joint interview with his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance on Fox News.    From potential gaffes to addressing Biden, The Hill's Niall Stanage has 5 things to watch during the interview.    Meanwhile, Harris and Trump's teams continue to hash out a final agreement for terms of their first debate scheduled Sept. 10.   Welcome to The Hill's Campaign Report, I'm Liz Crisp. Each week we track the key stories you need to know to stay ahead of the 2024 election and who will set the agenda in Washington.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  Key election stories and other recent campaign coverage: Texas GOP turbocharges immigration fight as races tighten AUSTIN, Texas — As polls show narrowing national races in Texas, and as the flow of migrant crossings at the Mexican border has slowed, Republicans and Democrats are pivoting on their immigration strategies. Republicans have focused recently on sweeping and unproven allegations of widespread voting from immigrants who are living in the country illegally — which Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has repeatedly cast as part …  Full Story 64 percent say RFK Jr. endorsement doesn't change view of Trump: Poll A majority of likely voters said that former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s endorsement of former President Trump doesn't change their view of the GOP nominee, according to a new national poll released Thursday.  The new Quinnipiac University found that 64 percent of likely voters said that Kennedy's backing of Trump does not influence their view of the 45th president. Nearly one-fifth of respondents, …  Full Story Charlamagne Tha God: Harris must 'answer questions from Black voters' Radio and TV personality Charlamagne Tha God said he would welcome Vice President Harris back on his radio show to speak to the concerns of Black voters.  In an interview on NewsNation's “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” Charlamagne said he hopes to see Harris win in November, but that she "needs to answer questions from everybody."  "She needs to answer questions from Black people," said Charlamagne. "But I’ve …  Full Story The Countdown  Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: 12 days until the presidential debate.  33 days until the vice presidential debate.  68 days until the 2024 general election.  144 days until Inauguration Day 2025.  On Our Watch  How to watch the Harris-Walz interview  © Paul Sancya, Associated Press The first sit-down interview with the Democratic presidential slate – Vice President Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – will air Thursday evening.     It will be pre-taped in Georgia as the duo concludes a two-day swing through the crucial battleground state. CNN has operated out of Atlanta since its debut in 1980.     Harris has not taken part in a solo interview since replacing President Biden after he ended his reelection campaign last month, lofting Harris to the top of the ticket. The highly anticipated interview is seen as a critical point for Harris's campaign in the sprint to the November election.     Details:     When: 9 p.m. Thursday.  Where: All CNN platforms, including TV and streaming options.  Who: Dana Bash, host of CNN's "Inside Politics," will conduct the interview.     Check with The Hill for full coverage.  In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Georgia motorcycle officer injured after assisting with Harris motorcade A Georgia police officer sustained "serious injuries" in a motorcycle crash Wednesday evening while he was assisting in the motorcade for Vice President Harris, the Savannah Police Department said in a statement Thursday. The incident, which took place around 7 p.m. EDT, was a "single-vehicle accident," police said, meaning no other vehicle was involved in the crash. Savannah Police Cpl. David Bates was subsequently transported … Full Story Quinnipiac poll finds Harris with 2-point lead over Trump after convention Vice President Harris and former President Trump are neck and neck in a new survey following the Democratic National Convention. The Quinnipiac University poll found Harris with 49 percent of support among likely voters, giving her a 2-point lead over Trump who received 47 percent of support. Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Party candidate Chase Oliver each received 1 percent of support, according to the poll. … Full Story Around the Nation  Local and state headlines regarding campaigns and elections: Money from hemp industry flowed into Florida GOP coffers after veto, frantic group chat effort (South Florida Sun Sentinel)  Colin Allred's understated campaign strategy draws mixed reviews from fellow Democrats (Texas Tribune)  Nebraska Supreme Court hears arguments on felon voting law (Nebraska Examiner)  Mississippi Insurance Commissioner pushing for his job to be appointed, not elected (Mississippi Today)  Illinois to soon accept submissions for new state flag (Chicago Tribune)  What We're Reading  Election news we've flagged from other outlets: How Beau Biden Set the Stage For Kamala Harris's Stunning Political Rise (Time)  Why It Will Be Harder for Trump to Challenge This Year's Election (Wall Street Journal)  In Some States, Having a Guardian Means Not Having a Vote (The New York Times)  Brittany Mahomes seems to triple down on stance amid Trump support backlash on Instagram (Fox News)  Elsewhere Today  Key stories on The Hill right now: Trump campaign knocks Fox News after polling shows Harris lead in battleground states Former President Trump’s campaign is attacking Fox News after the network released polling this week showing him trailing Vice President Harris in several key battleground states ahead of November. “It’s that time of year again. Fox is releasing atrocious polling,” the campaign said in a statement Thursday. “President … Read more Kinzinger rips Republicans after Pelosi's Jan. 6 video surfaces: 'Makes me furious' Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) expressed fresh frustration at his fellow Republicans on Wednesday in response to newly released video of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi the day after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, showing the California Democrat saying former President Trump has to “pay a price.” When asked to respond to footage … Read more What People Think  Opinions related to campaigns and elections submitted to The Hill: Kamala Chameleon vs. the Trump Circus: Where the polls stand   Trump's subversive media strategy to reach young male voters What the performative patriotism of Donald Trump reveals about his character   You're all caught up. See you next time!  Check out The Hill's Campaign page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? 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